anyone remember

[With_Two_Flakes]

Originally Posted by dumbref

I seem to remember a starter pistol used to end the half/game in the NFL. Did I imagine that?

No you didn't. Our Mechanics in the UK expressly forbid the use of a starter pistol over here, in case any of our guys tried to copy that practice.

Last time I visited a buddy of mine in the US who officiated in the MAC, he had a bunch of officiating memorabilia in his study - an officials horn and a red flag were amongst that stuff.

[Jurassic Referee]

I've still got some old horns in a box somewhere. There were several different kinds. There was one big honking mofo that Acme(I think) put out, called "The Bugle". There were smaller ones, including models attached to a wrist bracelet. Some were one-piece and had reeds built in; earlier models came in two parts and had reeds that screwed on and had to be replaced 2/3 times a year. It wasn't uncommon to have a reed start to go during a game too. You'd end up getting a toot that sounded like a duck being strangled.

Horns were a pain in the azz. Invariably ballplayers would stop when they heard one. And invariably new officials would get confused now and then and blow their whistle on an in-play penalty instead of the horn, thus killing play. I had that happen once on about a 65-yd. TD run. Not only did it kill the play before the runner scored, the damn penalty was for a defensive personal foul. Naturally, the home team was the team about to score too. As the white hat, I had the pleasure of trying to explain that one to the head coach. Note that I followed "team unity" principles though; I pointed at the official who blew his whistle and told the coach "That's the azzhole who did it."

[Jim D.]

I remember my father having a horn when I was a very little kid. I did start out with a red flag. I think we then went to a flag with one half red and one half white before we went to yellow.

The NFL got rid of the starter pistol sometime in the 80's. One of the chain crew guys would hold it and then slip it to the line judge shortly before the half or end of the game.

Originally Posted by Jim D.

The NFL got rid of the starter pistol sometime in the 80's. One of the chain crew guys would hold it and then slip it to the line judge shortly before the half or end of the game.

I think the NFL did away with it because the stupid thing was causing too many blooper moments for NFL Films. Hey, it is the No Fun League after all!

[umpirebob71]

If you're ever in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, go to the official's section. They have the old horns and flags on display.

[Texas Aggie]

I'll check with my dad, who started in the '50s, but I don't recall any mention of horns. They did use red flags, though, at least for a while. My mom would make his flags. She'd sew a washer in the corner for the weight.

[HossHumard]

As a player in the 70's, I remember the (penalty) horns very well. They sounded a lot like kazoos and I would agree that in the heat of battle, they probably caused more than a few players to slow down or stop altogether!

As far as flags are concerned, I'm pretty sure they were red back then now but certainly not anymore...north of the border they're now all neon orange!